Teammates celebrated with North Carolina guard Marcus Paige after the sophomore's game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left in overtime against N.C. State. The Tar Heels have won 11 in a row.
(AP Photo | Gerry Broome)

The scoreboard said North Carolina edged N.C. State 85-84 in overtime, but the truth is Wednesday's game in Raleigh was mainly a platform for one of the best individual duels in recent memory.

T.J. Warren scored 36 points for the Wolfpack. Marcus Paige had 35 for the Tar Heels, including a drive with 0.9 seconds remaining in the extra period. Warren was 13 of 25 from the field. Paige made seven 3-pointers.

It was the most points an N.C. State player scored against North Carolina since Tom Gugliotta also had 36 in 1992, and was one shy of the Wolfpack's top individual scoring performance against the Tar Heels (Rodney Monroe in 1991).

It was the first time two ACC players scored 35 points in the same game since Florida State's Al Thornton (37) and Duke's J.J. Redick (36) did so in the Blue Devils' 97-96 overtime victory on Feb. 4, 2006, and just the second time it's happened since at least 1997-98.

On and on the numbers go. The Tar Heels won bragging rights (as they usually do), but this was a night in which the individual outings will long be recalled.

NIGHT TO FORGET

Miami

The Hurricanes are the nation's most deliberate team, and Virginia is one of the country's most efficient defenses. Given its limitations this season, Miami was bound to flirt with a point-per-minute a few times, and it was downright predictable against the Cavaliers.

Nonetheless, the Hurricanes' 65-40 setback in Charlottesville was littered with all sorts of gory details. There was the 19 percent shooting in the second half (4-for-21).There were the three total assists. There was the 0-for-12 shooting from 3-point range. And there was the stretch with one field goal in a span of 8:32. Yep, this is one that’s best for the Hurricanes to completely purge from their memories.

NUMBERS OF NOTE

3

Players in Boston College history who have reached the 1,000-point plateau in their first two seasons. Olivier Hanlan joined Troy Bell and Craig Smith in that exclusive company as the Eagles lost 66-59 to Pittsburgh. Bell and Smith went on to rank 1-2 on Boston College's all-time points list.

42-16

Advantage in paint scoring for Notre Dame in its 65-62 defeat of Georgia Tech, salvaging a season split with the Yellow Jackets. The Irish got 21 points from Garrick Sherman as they kept their slim hopes of avoiding the opening round of the ACC tournament alive.

ON TAP SATURDAY

Miami at N.C. State, noon (ACC Network; Channel 3 in Syracuse): The Wolfpack (17-11, 7-8) must regroup quickly after Wednesday's loss to North Carolina as it takes on Miami (14-14, 5-10).

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame, 2 (ESPN2): The Panthers (21-7, 9-6) have won nine of 10 against the bottom 10 teams in the ACC, while the Fighting Irish (15-14, 6-10) are simply trying to stay above .500 overall as they play their home finale.

North Carolina at Virginia Tech, 2:30 (ACC Network; Channel 6 in Syracuse): The Tar Heels (21-7, 11-4) will clinch a place in the ACC quarterfinals with one more victory, and should be able to get it against the last-place Hokies (9-18, 2-13).

Syracuse at Virginia, 4 (ESPN): It's the first matchup of top-15 basketball teams in Charlottesville since 2002, and the host Cavaliers (24-5, 15-1) will lock up the top seed in the ACC tournament with a victory over the Orange (26-2, 13-2).

Boston College at Wake Forest, 4 (YES): In what could be a preview of the first day of the ACC tournament, the Eagles (7-21, 3-12) face the Demon Deacons (15-13, 5-10). At stake for Wake Forest is assurances of a winning overall record in the regular season.